She hurried on.
Simultaneously, from the garden door of the library a figure emerged, a man with some books under his arm. She recognized Lester, and a rush of something which was partly shyness and partly a delicious pride came over her, to delay her steps.
They met under the wide open colonnade which carried the first story of the house. Lester came toward her smiling and flushed.
"I've just heard," he said. "I do congratulate you. It's splendid!"
She gave him her hand; and he thought as he looked at her how happiness had beautified and transformed her. All that was imperfect in the face seemed to have fallen into harmony; and her dark bloom had never been so lovely.
"Yes, I'm very happy. He'll keep me in order! At least he'll try." Her eyes danced.
"Everybody seems extremely pleased," he said, walking at her side, and not indeed knowing what to say.
"Except Coryston," replied Marcia, calmly. "I shall have a bad time with him."
"Stand up to him!" he laughed. "His bark is worse than his bite—Ah!—"
A sudden sound of vehement voices overhead—Lady Coryston's voice and Arthur's clashing—startled them both.